Eron was still caught in quiet wonder when the space behind him began to ripple. The air trembled and thin cracks of light split through like glass under pressure. The glow widened with a sharp sound, tearing and splitting until a narrow opening formed behind him.
The moment it appeared, everything around him changed. Wind stopped first, then the rustling leaves went silent. A bird above him froze mid-flight, wings spread wide and motionless. Even the faint buzz of insects cut off completely. The entire forest had stopped.
Eron's breath caught. Body tensed. He couldn't move, couldn't look away. Then a figure stepped through the ripple.
She looked like a girl, no older than sixteen. Her hair flowed like flame and light, gold at the roots, fading to deep blue at the ends. It moved even though the air was still. Above her head floated a glowing halo shaped like a clock, golden hands turning slowly in perfect silence.
She wore a deep blue cloak lined with gold. The fabric shifted as if alive, moving with her even though nothing else did. Her feet were bare, and with every step, soft circles of light rippled beneath her before fading away.
Eron stumbled back. His heel caught on a root. Chest tightened. Heart hammered against his ribs. "Who?" His voice came out rough and shaky. "Who are you?"
The girl tilted her head and pointed at herself with one finger. A faint, confident smile spread across her face. "I've been called many things," she said lightly, her golden-blue hair flickering like fire. Then her grin widened, almost playful. "But the one that suits me best?" She paused. The clock-like halo above her head turned once, its hands glowing brighter for a second. "Time Walker."
The words sounded absurd, yet the frozen silence around them made them feel real. She raised one hand, palm out. "Relax. I'm not here to hurt you." Her gaze shifted toward his backpack. Corners of her lips curved higher, amused. "Oh, you brought something out of the tunnel." Her tone turned teasing. "Didn't think you'd actually take it."
Her gaze stayed fixed on him, like she was testing his reaction, waiting. Eron hesitated. His mind raced through possibilities. What was she talking about? Then it hit him, the bottle in his pack, the one still glowing faintly. "The moss?" he asked carefully.
She nodded. "Yep. Time Tunnel Moss. Super rare and dangerous when you don't handle it properly." Her lips curved into a teasing grin. "It's usually my snack when I'm taking a break, playing around in different timelines."
Eron's eyes widened. Hand instinctively went to his backpack strap. "Is that stuff edible?" His voice rose slightly, panic slipping through. "I touched it with my bare hands. Am I in danger?"
She giggled, the sound bright in the frozen world, light and unbothered. "You didn't eat it, so you'll be fine. But some of its mana slipped into you. Don't worry. It won't hurt, just make your reactions a bit slower for a while. Your body's energy capacity will shift a little too. Nothing dangerous, just different."
To prove her point, she reached into thin air. A ripple formed, glowing faintly. She pulled out a leather pouch that glowed with soft light and opened it slightly, showing him the moss inside. The strands still pulsed gently, alive even in their dried form. "See? I keep some with me all the time." She smirked, eyes glinting with mischief. "Want a taste? It's sweet if you brew it into tea. Helps when you're walking through the river."
Eron quickly raised both hands. "No. I'll pass." He stared at the pouch, uneasy. Eating something pulled out of time itself did not sound like a good idea, not even close.
She chuckled. "Suit yourself." Then without warning, she grabbed a piece of the glowing moss and tossed it in her mouth. Chewed casually, like it was candy. Faint blue light flickered behind her lips, then faded.
Eron froze and stared. She actually ate it. His thoughts spun. What kind of person eats something that glows? The pouch slipped back into the ripple, closed with a soft spark, and vanished.
Her playful look faded, replaced by a calm, serious expression. Tone grew firm. "Here's the important tip. The mana inside that moss? It's enough to create one Time Pocket, but only once."
Eron felt a chill run down his spine. "A... Time Pocket?"
Her eyes gleamed. "A pocket outside the normal flow. Inside, twenty years can pass while only a second moves out here. A span of two decades in your hands."
The words hit him hard. Thoughts spun out of control. Twenty years. Alone. Trapped while everything else stayed frozen. No one to talk to. Just his own breathing, his own thoughts eating away at him. He imagined counting the years by his heartbeat, watching his hands age, his body changing while nothing else did. His stomach turned.
He thought of Sarah, of everything left behind without a goodbye. Dread sank deep in his gut. Hands began to shake. "Wouldn't that drive me insane?" His voice was rough and unsteady. "Twenty years alone. How could anyone stay sane after that?" He forced himself to speak. "What if I trigger it by accident? What if I don't want it at all?"
She drifted closer. Cloak shifted with faint sparks of static. Air around her buzzed, raising the hairs on his arms. "You won't trigger it by accident," she said softly, voice calm and certain. "When the moment comes, you'll know."
The ripple behind her flickered again. She glanced at it, then back at him. "Anyway," she said lightly, almost dismissively, "enjoy your new world. Try not to destroy it." She turned toward the portal, then paused and looked back over her shoulder. "I'll visit again. Probably when you least expect it."
She hesitated for a moment, like she wanted to say something more, then shook her head. "You'll figure it out on your own." She winked, then stepped into the light.
Eron froze. Mouth opened but no words came out. Destroy it? Destroy what? The words echoed in his mind, but she was already stepping into the light, already gone.
In the next instant, time snapped back. Sound crashed into him all at once. The bird's wings beat the air hard and fast, leaves tumbled down in a sudden rush, wind hit his face, insects returned louder than before. Like the world was shouting after being silent for too long.
Eron staggered. His head spun from the sudden flood of movement and noise. Pressed a hand to his temple, trying to steady himself. Slowly, he looked down at his pack. The bottle with the moss inside looked ordinary now, but it carried a weight he couldn't explain.
"Snack moss, Time Pockets, and a girl who bends time." His voice shook. "What the hell is happening to my life?" He rubbed both hands over his face and looked up at the twin suns hanging above, bright and alien and endless. He was alone again.
He shifted his weight and took a step forward. His shadow moved a second too late. He froze and looked down. The shadow stretched across the grass, matching his shape now. But for a split second, just a heartbeat, it lagged behind. Like time itself was not sure where he belonged.
He stared at it for a moment longer, then shook his head. Adjusted his pack. Took a breath and started walking. The twin suns watched him from above as he disappeared into the trees. And in the back of his mind, he wondered if he was ready for what came next.